Disconnecting switch



Jan. 27, 1959 A. J. TURGEON DISCONNECTING SWITCH Filed Nov. '7. 1956 nvewtor lbe'rf J. Tuztgzon/ States Patent DISCONNECTING SWITCH Albert J. Turgeon, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, assignor to Eastern Power Devices Limited, Port Credit, Ontario, Canada, a limited-liability company of Canada Application November 7, 1956, Serial No. 620,968 4 Claims. (Cl. 200--48) This invention relates to disconnecting switches for high tension power lines.

The conventional disconnecting switch includes a jaw contact assembly carried by an insulator stack and a switch blade swingable into and out of relation with the jaw contact member and which in closed position is at right angles to the major axis of the supporting insulator stack and which is swingable to an open position wherein it is parallel ,to the major axis of the supporting stack. The switch installationrequires a'substantial amount of ground area andincludes a plurality ofv supporting insulator stacks.

It is an object of this invention to provide a disconnecting switch which may be more compactly arranged than those heretofore proposed, with resultant saving of ground area, which requires a more simplified supporting structure with reduction in weight and height thereof, which may result in elimination of the supporting insulator stack for the jaw contact assembly, and the installation cost of which is substantially reduced.

To this end, the invention contemplates the provision of a disconnecting switch having a supporting insulator stack, a switchblade and a jaw contact assembly, said blade when in closed position in relation to said jaw contact assembly, being in substantially parallel relation to the major axis of said insulator stack.

The invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of a disconnecting switch in accordance with the invention,

Figure 2 is an enlarged side elevation of the blade and actuating mechanism therefor,

Figure 3 is an enlarged end elevation of the blade and actuating mechanism,

Figure 4 is a plan view of the switch blade and actuating mechanism, and

Figure 5 is a plan view of a portion of a jaw contact member.

In the drawing, the switch structure is illustrated as supported on a single column I mounted on a base 2. The column 1 carries a platform 3 on which are mounted a pair of insulator stacks 4 and 5. Stack 4 is rotatably mounted and is arranged for rotation from the base of the column by means generally indicated at 6 for operation of the switch, all in a conventional manner.

switch switch A crank 7 is fixed to the upper end of stack 4 and is journalled in a bearing 8 carried by a frame 9 supported on the insulator stack 5. A link 10 has a fork 11 at one end between the arms of which is pivotally mounted a block 12 having a pair of pins 13 extending into slots 14 in the arms 15 of the forked end of crank 7. It will be observed that the arms 15 are disposed in a plane parallel.

to the axis of stack 4 with the axis of pins 13 normal thereto. Link 10 also has a fork 16 of major extent disposed in a plane at right angles to the plane of fork 11. Between the ends of the arms of fork 16 is pivotally mounted a fitting 17 which is connected in fixed relation to the switch blade 18.

The end portion of switch blade 18 is mounted in member 19 for rotation therein about its longitudinal axis. Member 19 is pivotally mounted in frame 9 for pivotal movement about an axis normal to the longitudinal axis of the switch blade.

Referring to Figures 1 and 5, the switch blade 18 is shown as in upright position with its flattened end portion 28 disposed in contact with the jaws 21 of the jaw contact assembly end 22 of the switch. It will be recognized that this is the closed position of the switch, in which the axis of the switch blade 18is in parallel relation to the axes of the column 1 and supporting stacks 4 and 5.

It will be apparent that, with the switch blade in closed position as described, on rotation of the stack 4 and crank 7, initial movement thereof, by reason of its pin and slot connection with forked link 10, and the latters connection with switch blade 18, willcause rotation of the switch blade about its longitudinal axis to release the contact pressure between the flattened end portion 20 of the blade and the jaws 21. Further rotation of the stack 4 and crank 7 will swing the blade 18 about the pivotal axis of member 19, i. e., about an axis normal to the longitudinal axis of the switch blade. Such swinging movement-is shown in dotted lines in Figure 1 and, of course, will cause the blade to move out of the jaws 21.and down into a generally horizontal position, as viewed in Figure 1, wherein the -switch-blade is in open position which is approximately from its closed position.

It will further be apparent that, to close the switch, a reverse operating procedure is followed.

In order to stabilize swinging movements of the switch blade 18, a damping cylinder 23 may be pivotally mounted in frame 9 with a piston rod connection 24 with member 19.

The switch described results in a simplified supporting structure, a more compact arrangement of elements with resultant saving of ground area, and elimination of a supporting insulator stack for the jaw end of the switch. It also results in a reduction in weight and height of the supporting structure with consequent saving of costs.

The switch described also lends itself to much more flexible and versatile installation procedures to meet the needs of varying situations occurring in practical use.

I claim:

1. A disconnect switch comprising a base, an operating mechanism and a blade; said operating mechanism being comprised of a first and second member; said first member having one end pivotly mounted on said base; said second member being rigid and having one end directly connected to said blade; said blade being pivotly mounted on said base; said blade having an engaged and disengaged position with respect to a contact positioned above said operating mechanism; said blade being rotatable about its own axis and swingable about the pivotal mounting on the base toward said operating mechanism when moved to said disengaged position and resting substantially adjacent to said first and second members of said operating mechanism when in a fully disengaged position.

2. A disconnect switch comprised of a base, an operating mechanism and a blade; said operating mechanism being comprised of afirst and second member; said first member having one end pivotly mounted on said base; said blade having a first and second section; said second member being rigid and having one end directly secured to said first section of said blade; said first and second section being mounted concentric to each other; said first section having rotation about its main axis; said second section of said blade being pivotly mounted on said base to therebyprevent rotation of said second section about its main axis; said first section having an engaged and disengaged position with respect to a contact positioned above said operating mechanism; said'first section being rotatable about its own axis and swingable about theaxis of the second section pivot toward said operating mechanism when moved to said disengaged position and resting substantially adjacent to said first and second members of said blade having a first and second section; said second member being rigid and having one end directly secured -to said first section of said blade; said first and second section being mounted concentric to each other; said first section having rotation about its main axis; said second section of said blade being pivotly mounted on said base to thereby prevent rotation of said second section about its main axis; said first section having an engaged and disengaged position with respect to a contact positioned above said operating mechanism; said first section being rotatable about its own axis and swingable about the axis of the second section pivot toward said operating mechanism when moved to said disengaged position and resting substantially adjacent to said first and second members of said operating mechanism when in a fully disengaged position; said disconnect switch having a counterbalance comprised of a dampening cylinder and a piston rod extension; said dampening cylinder being connected by said piston rod connection to said second section of said blade; said dampening cylinder and said piston rod extension extending below said operating mechanism.

4. A disconnecting switch, comprising a rotatably mounted insulator stack; a fixed insulator stack in parallel adjacent relation to said rotatable stack; a frame fixed 'to the top of said fixed stack; a blade supporting member pivoted to said frame; a switch blade mounted for rotation about its longitudinal axis in said member and for swinging movement with said member; a jaw contact assembly disposed directly above said blade supporting member; a crank fixed to and rotatable with said rotatable stack; a rigid link having one end pivoted directly to said crank and its other end connected to said switch blade; said link being actuable by said crank in response to rotation of said rotatable stack to swing said blade into upright and parallel relation to said stacks; said switch blade having its free end disposed in said jaw contact assembly when in said upright parallel position; said link in response to continued rotation of said rotatable stack being actuable by said crank to rotate said blade about its longitudinal axis, said link restraining rotation of said blade about its longitudinal axis when said blade is in non-parallel relation to said stacks; said switch blade moved toward said crank and said link when said disconnect switch is moved to disengaged position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,420,074 Froland May 6, 1947 2,531,165 Scheuermeyer Nov. 21, 1950 2,697,144 Owens Dec. 14, 1954 2,807,681 Sciscione et al Sept. 24, 1957 

